What Cats Can Teach Us About Sleep

September 10, 2013

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Title: What Cats Can Teach Us About Sleep URL: https://www.dherbs.com/articles/featured-articles/what-cats-can-teach-us-about-sleep/

I’ve never been much of a cat person. I’ll confess that until recently I couldn’t understand the lure these mysterious creatures had for so many. Beyond their penchant for catching the occasional rodent, it seemed they were little more than hypersomnolent stoics who couldn’t distinguish a scratching post from a fine leather sofa.

After considerable observation of our feline friends, however, I’ve come to wonder if they might actually be from another world — a parallel universe where rest and sleep are held in the highest esteem. Because they are on exceptionally good terms with it, I believe cats have much to teach us about the secrets of natural sleep.

Cats commonly sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day — more than most mammals and up to twice as much as humans. Why do they sleep so much? Well, because they can. Cats are predators with few natural enemies, meaning they live under the auspices of a generous, genetically-endowed sense of physical safety. They are, after all, first cousins to the king of the jungle. It’s obvious to anyone who has ever watched a cat sleep that they feel remarkably safe and secure.

Cats remind us of the critical role of personal safety and security in obtaining healthy sleep. Much of human sleeplessness is linked to hyperarousal, a chronic state of hypervigilance associated with an underlying lack of psychological safety. Feeling safe and secure is not about denying the reality of life’s risks, but of learning to relax despite them.

As predators, cats are also inclined to engage in significant spurts of physical activity. They can expend extraordinary amounts of energy stalking, pouncing and wrestling their prey into submission. Even when this prey is a tattered toy mouse, cats generally obtain substantial amounts of exercise. Relative to cats, humans are significantly less animated. Despite the fact that cardiovascular activity provides substantial sleep benefits, nearly half of all adults do not meet established minimal guidelines for adequate exercise.

Cats seem never to venture very far from sleep. Though they might be fully roused one moment, engaging in passionate play or serious stalking, cats seem able to slide effortlessly back into rest and sleep the next. Keeping sleep in close proximity to waking leaves cats so adept at napping that we’ve named a version of it after them.

Although we can only speculate about their subjective experience, cat behavior suggests they live with an unusual sense of continuity between waking and sleep. In contrast, most of us distance ourselves from sleep during our waking day. We relate to sleep the way we relate to our bed — we’re with it by night but keep it under cover by day. We’ve come to believe that civilized waking must be positioned far from the wilds of sleep. Consequently, millions of us think we’re just incapable of napping.

I believe the unique features of cats’ sleep stem from the fact that they live in another world. Cats are crepuscular — that is, they are biologically programmed to be most wakeful and active in the twilight hours of dusk and dawn. Cats reside in the boundary between night and day — between waking and sleep. In fact, cats challenge the commonly held notion that it’s impossible to be simultaneously asleep and awake. Not only are they able to sleep while sitting up, their sense of smell and hearing can remain active during most of their sleep.

In sharp contrast, it appears that modern humans literally have diminished awareness of twilight. The majority of us routinely sleep through dawn and rush through dusk. One could argue that humans have become “anti-crepuscular” and, consequently, are out of touch with the natural, open corridor that bridges day and night as well as waking and sleep. For millions of us, transitioning to sleep is like crossing a highly secure border between two polarized states. Having disengaged so thoroughly from sleep by day leaves us at greater risk for insomnia — of getting stopped and stranded in this corridor by night.

Cats have high security clearance allowing them to move about freely in this borderland. Long ago the Druids believed cats had magical powers that could facilitate crossings between the spiritual and physical worlds. Cats live in a serene hybrid state of twilight consciousness where elements of sleep and waking can sweetly commingle. Could it be that this exceptional relationship cats have with sleep is the secret behind their unflappable poise, childlike curiosity and notorious nine lives?

Become a copycat. There is most certainly something about twilight that invites us deeply into the present moment — the here and now. Experiment with carrying elements of sleep with you throughout the day. Not as sleepiness or fatigue, but in the form of a comfortable sense of serenity, poise and relaxation. It’s not surprising that being in the present moment is associated with deeply relaxed states such as those found in prayer, meditation, yoga, and moments of intimate connection. When we are in the here and now, we often look like we are partially asleep.

Cats are the most popular pets on Earth. Clearly, they’ve got something over us. Some have speculated that cats believe they’re domesticating humans. If so, I think they still have a long way to go.

Q: I was informed my two year old son has sleep apnea, and requires surgery. During his sleep, he stops breathing for several seconds. This worries me! What herbs can he take so he can have a normal sleep?

A:

Herbs can only assist! They are not the solution! I would recommend that he doesn't sleep on a pillow. He needs a bed that allows his body to slant, so his head will be lower than his feet. This
way, oxygen can rush to his brain. My sleep article is being finished and may be up near the end of April. Please stay tuned to Dherbs.com! Make sure you get a guarantee that surgery will solve the
problem. Surgery is always a big risk.

Q: I am a 54 year old female, in menopause. Recently, I am unable to sleep through the night without waking several times. Is there something that can help me?

A:

Yes, there is help! Dherbs NERVES FORMULA, NERVES TEA and
DREAM-AID INSPIRANT. Use all 3 shortly before bed time. Drink tea 1 hour before bedtime and take 3 capsules shortly before
getting in bed and inhale the Inspirant before closing your eyes.

Q: I have obstructive sleep apnea and I sleep with a CPAP machine. I'm doing the full body detox. On the third night while taking the ACTIVATED CHARCOAL, I woke up in the middle of the night from a dream that my head was full of air and was about to explode. I took the CPAP mask off and I haven't taking the activated charcoal since. I believe my throat collapsed, however the first night using it I slept well. I am now on my fifth day with the FULL BODY DETOX. Do you have any suggestions. Will the lack of the charcoal water formula #7 ruin my detox.

A:

The ACTIVATED CHARCOALis not causing the problem. You associated it with the problem. But you don't have to take the
charcoal.

Q: I have a client that had her thyroid removed, the doctors have her on 3 grains of the natural...well natural for a pig. Thyroid. She couldn't sleep so they put her on ativan. Which is making her crazy (between you and I) She is still not sleeping and feeling agitated and this drug is causing her anxiety. I feel it has built up in her system and she has to dose down off of it. Do you have anything that would help her sleep? I have already suggested your thyroid blend. However, I didn't know if it could really help her as they removed her thyroid. So perhaps she does need the grains, as her body can no longer produce it on her own. I would really like to get her on natural as possible stuff so we can see what is physical and what we can work on energetically. Right now she feels like an energetic mess. Any suggestions?

A:

I RECOMMEND FOR HER (TO INDUCE SLEEP) OUR NERVES FORMULA (6 CAPSULES BEFORE BEDTIME) AND CALMING INSPIRANT. AND BY ALL MEANS SHE
NEEDS A NATURAL THYROID FORMULA (I.E. THYRIOD FORMULA AND IODINE PHOSPHATE. IF SHE FEELS LIKE AN ENERGETIC MESS, SOME SERIOUS CHAKRA BALANCING/ALIGNMENT IS NEEDED.

Q: I gave my daughter 1 capsule of BRAIN TUNER every morning for about two weeks now. She now has a mild to average seizure every day instead of twice or three times a week. And since taken this Brain Tuner two weeks ago she has had two bad attacked. Normally she will get a bad attack every 2 - 3 weeks once. Most of her attack come during her sleep or during an afternoon nap, i.e. she will wake up from this sleep/nap and stay still for 30 sec - 1 minutes and the attack will come and her entire palms and feet will turn cold and heart starting to beat very fast. And once in a while if she does not get enough sleep she will get a hard attack out of the blue during the day otherwise most of the seizure attack during her sleep. Does this Brain Tuner stimulate her brain and causes the attack? What other remedy should I take to cut down this seizure?

A:

Sounds like the body (brain) is being greatly regulated, but if the BRAIN TUNER is speeding up the attack of seizures, abstain from
using it and just give OXY-DROPS in glass or cup or water (20 drops per cup/glass). Normally a thing increases before it decreases but if
this causes concern then abstain and try something else.

Q: Hey Gary here are my challenge I'm 43 been trying to lose weight, I start on a program and stop once I don't see any results. I tried the Detox I think I lost about 5 pounds, I work at night and have a part time jobs seeing private patients in the day so my sleep pattern is little maybe I get 4 hrs of sleep I'm having problems getting this weight off. I also want to mention when I do exercise my joints swell so I try to keep it low impact. I also have sweet tooth so I get these cravings here and there more so when I'm at work at night. Hopefully you can help me. Thanks....Lakeisha

A:

Hi, thanks for the question.

Lets go through one thing at a time. Your overall schedule and lifestyle is not healthy and will likely sabotage your health goals. Receiving so little sleep will prevent major weight loss because your body cannot cleanse and cannot recharge. You must repay your energy debt before you can properly lose weight. Your body is always in a state of playing catch-up to the workload you are giving it. It stores fat because it doesn't have theenergy to properly function. I understand crazy schedules but they will not get you the results you desire. I would focus on trying to find a more balanced or healthier schedule before adding the stress of losing weight to an already overworked body.

Your body has been come toxic and inflamed from a toxic lifestyle. A high carb-high raw vegan diet will help ease your suffering the most. A high carb (fruit based) diet will help replenish your energy stores and reducenutritional stress. To learn more about how a healthy vegan diet can help you reach your goals please consider the following eBooks found at Dherbs.com.

As far as your mindset is concerned an all or nothing approach rarely breeds success. Especially when it come to regaining health or losing weight. It takes time and patience. I would recommend checking out the DVD"fat sick and nearly dead". It's a fascinating look at how you can quickly go from a health zero to a health hero in the shortest time. Every single person on the planet has a sweet tooth. Those who say they don't usually are hopped up on caffiene or other drugs and pharmaceuticals. Every cell in the body runs on glucose. The brain eats up a small apple and a half worth of glucose every hour. Eating a high carb-lower fat diet will give you an energy abundance, reduce overall stress, and help you lose weight.

Q: My daughter is currently taking Gingko Biloba + Gotu Kola (1 capsule), Magical Alchemical Elixir (2 drops twice daily), Cardio-Vascular Formula (3 capsules), Brain Tuner (3 capsules) and children detox from Dherbs. However, she still experience palpitation + mild seizure (raising of hands) every morning upon waking up. She experience mild fits once a day usually in her sleep/nap and get a severe seizure once every 10-12 days also during her sleep/nap. She was also diagnosed as Asperger Syndrome when she was seven and has improved considerably but not able to focus and easily get irritated. She likes to flipflop her hands a lot and always in wonderland during class. Not able to understand and totally lost in class though she has a very good memory. I also bring her to temple every week to pray and seek spiritual guidance and apply Reiki to her everyday. At present I just do not know what else to do to control her seizure and morning palpitation. Will Epson salt bath help in her epilepsy and anise powder water help in her palpitation. Your guidance and help is much appreciated.

A:

Something is going on while she's sleeping (visiting another realm). It sounds like it could be something from a past-life. Consider placing crystals near her bed and under pillow. Crystals such
as amethyst, selenite, angelite, quartz, turquoise, black tourmaline, pink or purple lepidolite, lapis lazuli, sodalite, etc.

Q: Hello, I have a son that is now 5 years old and the doctors thought he had PDD autism. Through prayer and searching I don't think this is the case. He has trouble focusing, slow development, irritability, tosses and turns during sleep, stops breathing at times during sleep, slow speech development, poor memory, and very poor stool movement (often small little pebbles) God showed me Celiac before but I never had the money to really convert his diet totally, is there something that you have that might help with this for his age?

A:

Please schedule a consultation, Beloved. A response here won't do justice to the little boy's situation.

Q: WHAT TYPE OF HERBAL MEDICINE DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR ADHD FOR KIDS BECAUSE THAT RITALIN IS NOTHING BUT POISON AND IT'S HURTING MY CHILD. I ALSO WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF HERBAL MEDICINE TO USE AS A SLEEP AIDE BEACAUSE HE ALSO HAS TROUBLE FALLING TO SLEEP AT NIGHT, THE DOCTORS HAVE HIM ON CLONIDINE, I WANT HIM OFF ALL THAT MAN MADE POISON THE DOCTORS ARE PRESCRIBINING HIM SO THE PHARMACUTICAL COMPANIES CAN GET RICH. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT THAT TRILLION DOLLAR MONEY MAKER THE GOVERNMENT.

A:

First, we recommend that your child performs the Children's Cleanse to remove the negative repercussions that pharmarceutical drugs cause.

In addition, order our Nerves tea and give this to the child every night before bedtime and before going to school.

Q: I am writing about everything I am dealing so I can feel my best again. I want your recomendation on all the things I have been dealing with since I got sick a year ago. here is the list of alements. and most are caused by the bad kidney and some from the meds. kidney disease high phosphrous high blood pressure, yesturday 252/151 sleep apnea they want me to sleep with a machine on my face, enlarge prostate chest pains poor circliation in my legs from the high phosporous constipation insomnia a swollen foot fatigue I know that is a grocery list of problems I am willing to do what ever it takes to recover. You already gave some things to do. I just want to make sure I have covered all grounds. I thank you for your ministry and your passion to help Gods people. You are truly a blessing. Thankyou again neil In all due honesty, you need a consultation. You have a plethora of conditions and all of them have underlying causes which can be covered via consultation and directly. I'd have to write a 20-page article just to cover everything by written word and I just don't have the time to do this for individual persons (we're too busy here at Dherbs answering hundreds of inquiries per day).

Treatment for any disease is not just one-dimensional. We have herbs that will help, but the healing is so much more wholistic. Herbally, I recommend our NERVES FORMULA (6 capsules before bedtime). I also suggest drinking a cup of Valerian Root or Kava Kava tea before
bedtime.